Incandescent igniting device for explosion-engines.



Patented nec. 25, |900.

No. 664,6l.

G. MIARI & F. GIUSTI.

INCANDESCENT IGNITING DEVICE FUR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

(Application filed Dec. 9, 1897.I

(No Model.)

IIIIII 2711/6/7 071g @1Mo/770% zifL Francesca frz as a www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIACOMO MIARI AND FRANCESCO GIUSTI, OF PADUA, ITALY.

INCANDESCENT IGNITING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,661, dated December 25, 1900.

Application led December 9, 1897. Serial No. 661,222. (No model.)

' -To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that we, GIACOMO MIARI and FRANCESCO GIUSTI, subjects of the King of Italy, residing at Padua, Italy, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Explosion-Engines, more especially applicable to the propulsion of vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The construction of our improved igniting device is based upon the property possessed by platinum gauze, woven into very small meshes, of igniting compressed explosive mixtures used in gas-engines ata low red heat or scarcely visible in the dark, whereas Sponges or platinum moss (the employment of which is, moreover, a matter of extreme delicacy) only produces the ignition of such compressed mixtures at a white heat. The form and arrangement of our kindling device are such, too, as to render its operation particularly serviceable for practical purposes, as they enable the device to be started or primed without any necessity for removing it from the motor-cylinder.

Our invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a side View; Fig. 3, a detail of the valve and connected parts; Fig. 4, a face View, and Fig. 5 a section of the dome carrying the gauze igniter. Fig. 6 is a central sectional View.

The small cylindrical furnace 1 comprises a species of cap or dome 2, which may be removed along with the lid or cover 3. This dome has two slots 4, situated diametrically opposite each other and in a plane perpendicular to its theoretical axis. Into these slots there is passed a rectangular band 5 of platinum wire-gauze, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, in the center of which there is secured a small square of wire-gauze 6, woven with smaller meshes, the diagonals of which are arranged to be parallel to the sides of the strip 5, Fig. 4. The edges of this strip or band 5 are folded down outside the dome and fixed thereto, Fig. 5.

In the chamber 7, Fig. 6, there is a very light small-sized nap-valve 8, with a very narrow seat. A screw 9 serves to retain in place the iiap or door 8 of this valve, while imparting to it at the same time a great facility of motion and enabling the distance between such valve-door and valve-seat, which should be very small, to be accurately adjusted. The chamber of the valve 8 is connected by a passage 9a to another annular space 10, which in its turn communicateswith the interior of the furnace 1 through openings 11, provided all around the platinum wire-gauze. In the center of the lid 3 there is a circular orifice 12, coinciding with another orifice of equal diameter formed in the dome 2. When the kindling or igniting device is screwed onto the end A A of the motor-cylinder, as at a, a door or Hap 13, of very light construction, pivoted at 14, closes the orifice 12, which only opens when the piston in its return stroke strikes the arm 13a. A ring of small holes 15, Fig.2, formed all around the dome 2, serves to connect the furnace 1 with the motor-cylinder, such holes being, however, sufficiently small to prevent any dii'usion of theV flame. The interior of the kindling device is made readily accessible by a brass plug 16, Fig. 6, capable of being instantaneously removed and refitted in place. The tube 17, Fig. 6, is connected to a suitable supply of explosive mixture. (N ot shown.) y

The operation of the kindling device is as follows: The explosive mixture enters first into the passage 17, then into the valve-chamber 7, and through the passage 9a and. the apertures 11 t0 the platinum wire-gauze 5 6, on sweeping past which it will take its course toward the outlet or orifice left open by the removal of the plug 16. By means of a lighted match the gas-jet issuing from this orifice is now kindled, and the flame spreading throughout the interior of the igniting device heats the platinum wire-gauze to a red heat, which, owing to the special property of the platinum, will continue red-hot and capable of inflaming the explosive mixture in the cylinder interior even after the plug has been put back in its place. Ignition may only take place, however, when the engine-crank (not shown) is at its inward dead-point, for the door 13 does not open before the drivingpiston has l reached the end of its return stroke. When the explosive mixture, constituting the source of power, has by suction been conveyed into the cylinder, (not shown,) a small quantity of explosive gas supplied l l Y suc-tion phase.

from a carburizer (notshown) is drawn in at the same time through the apertures 15, furnace 1, perforations 11, valve 8, and tube 17. The gas sent onto the platinum Wire-gauze keeps it red-hot. During compression the valve 8 closes; but as an effect of the compression itself :the gas contained in the cylinder enters the furnace through the apertures 15, becomes ignited by Vcontact with the platinum ganze, and then ignites the explosive vmixture compressed in the cylinder as soon,

as the valve-door 13 opens at the yend of the y return stroke of the driving-pistou. The platinum gauze tends to cool down during the exhaust phase, yet does not do so sufticiently to prevent its being brought up to a red heat again during the next succeeding Hence it follows that when once the kindling device has been started and the engine set in motion ignition will continue to take place atstated 'times and without necessitating any stoppage Of the engine.

While the exhaust-valve remains open under the action of the governor and interrupts the series of successive working pistonstrokes, the slight suckingaction taking place at each forward stroke of the piston will admit, through the valve 8 and the furnace of the ignitiug device, a sufficient supply of explosive mixture to maintain the gauze atthe high degree of heat capable of igniting the mixture and of thereby causing the piston to perform its initial Operative stroke as soon as the governor admits of this.

Having thus described ou'r invention, what We claim is- 1. Adevice of the character described, comprising an ignition-chamber having suitable i Y. outlets and an interiorly-arranged medium capable of receiving a degree of heat to cause 4c,VV ignition of an explosive mixture admitted to"V said ignition-chamber, a valved inlet-tube'n Y connecting by an intermediate passage and I f perforated chamber with said ignition-chamg i'f ber, substantially as set forth. i 14'5 Y 2. Adevice of the character'described.,com# prising au ignition-chamber having suitable f il; outlets and an interiorly-arranged mediumjijf capable of receiving a degree of heatrtoefi'V fect ignition of an explosive mixture admit-25o'Y ted Vto said ignition-chamber, a valved inlet- Y' tube, an intermediate passage and perforated f chamber between said inlet-tube kand iigniVar tion-chambemand an initial plug-closedig#"fV nition-chamber, substantiallyas Yset forth; 5 5VV gV 3. Adevice ofthe character described,eomfii i -prisng an ignition-chamber having :suitableY p outlets and an interiorly-arranged :gauze if. l dium capable of receiving .a degree of ,heatteV effect ignition or combustion of yan explosive Y mixture admitted to said chamber, a valved -Y p inlet-tube having communication :through.ij''YV passage and a perforated chamber withisaid, Y ignition-chamber, andan initial ,plug-.cloedgf ignition-chamber, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof'we have hereuutogsot; Y 1 our vhands in presence of two subscribiugwt- .i 'Y nesses.

GIACOMO MIARI. Y*

FRANCESCO GIUSTI; 1

Witnesses: Y Y

TITO MARTINI, Y1 JOHN VAL JACKSON. Y 

